Genesis 49

1 After this, Jacob called his sons together and told them, “Assemble yourselves around me ^{a49:1 The Heb. lacks around me} so I can tell you all what is going to happen to you in the last days. ^{b49:1 Or in days to come}ISV — Genesis 49:1

2 “Gather together and listen, you children of Jacob. Listen to your father Israel.”ISV — Genesis 49:2

3 “Reuben, you’re my firstborn, my strength, and the first fruit of my vitality. You excel in rank and excel in power.ISV — Genesis 49:3

4 But you’re as undisciplined as a roaring river, so eventually you won’t succeed, because you got in your father’s bed, ^{c49:4 Cf. Gen 35:22} defiled it, and then approached my couch.”ISV — Genesis 49:4

5 “Simeon and Levi are brothers; their swords are violent weapons.ISV — Genesis 49:5

6 I’ll ^{d49:6 Lit. Let my soul} never join their council; I’ll never enter their assembly. In their anger they committed murder and lamed cattle just for fun.ISV — Genesis 49:6

7 Their anger is cursed, because it is so fierce, as is their vehemence, because it is so cruel. I will separate them throughout Jacob’s territory ^{e49:7 The Heb. lacks ‘s territory} and disperse them throughout Israel.”ISV — Genesis 49:7

8 “Your brothers will praise you, Judah. ^{f49:8 The Heb. verb praise is a word play on the name Judah} Your hand will be at the throat of your enemies, and your father’s children will bow down to you.ISV — Genesis 49:8

9 Judah is a lion cub. My son, you have gone up from the prey. Crouching like a lion, he lies down, Like a lioness, who would dare rouse him?ISV — Genesis 49:9

10 The scepter will never depart from Judah, nor a ruler’s staff from between his feet, until the One ^{g49:10 Or until Shiloh} comes, who owns them both, ^{h49:10 Lit. comes to whom it belongs; i.e. the authority represented by the scepter and ruler’s staff} and to him will belong the allegiance ^{i49:10 Or obedience} of nations.ISV — Genesis 49:10

11 Binding his donkey to the vine and his mare’s foal to its thick tendrils, he will wash his garments in wine and his robe in the juice of grapes.ISV — Genesis 49:11

12 His eyes are darker than wine and his teeth whiter than milk.”ISV — Genesis 49:12

13 “Zebulun will settle down near the sea shore and become a safe haven for shipping, bordering Sidon.”ISV — Genesis 49:13

14 “Issachar is a strong donkey, resting between sheepfolds.ISV — Genesis 49:14

15 He observed that his resting place was excellent, and that the land was pleasant; he bent down, picked up his burdens, and became a slave at forced labor.”ISV — Genesis 49:15

16 “Dan will judge ^{j49:16 The Heb. name Dan means judge} his people as one of Israel’s tribes.ISV — Genesis 49:16

17 Dan will be a snake on the path, a viper on the road that snaps at the heels of horses, causing their riders to fall off.ISV — Genesis 49:17

18 “LORD, I’m waiting for your salvation.”ISV — Genesis 49:18

19 “Bandits will raid Gad, but Gad will raid them back.” ^{k49:19 Lit. raid the heel}ISV — Genesis 49:19

20 “Asher’s food will be delicious; he will be a provider of delicacies fit for royalty.”ISV — Genesis 49:20

21 “Naphtali is a free running deer who produces eloquent literature.”ISV — Genesis 49:21

22 “Joseph is descended from a fruitful vine, a fruitful vine planted near springs of water. His branches climb over walls.ISV — Genesis 49:22

23 Even though enemies ^{l49:23 The Heb. lacks enemies} attacked him, shooting at him and pursuing him viciously,ISV — Genesis 49:23

24 nevertheless his bow remained steady and his arms kept in shape by the strength of Jacob’s Mighty One, in the name of the Shepherd, Israel’s Rock,ISV — Genesis 49:24

25 by your father’s God who helps you, by the Almighty who will keep on blessing you with blessings from heaven above, with blessings from the deepest ocean, with blessing from the breasts and the womb.ISV — Genesis 49:25

26 Your father’s blessings will prove to be stronger than blessings from the eternal mountains or bounties from the everlasting hills. May they come to rest on Joseph’s head, May they be set upon the brow of the one who was separated from his own brothers.”ISV — Genesis 49:26

27 “Benjamin is vicious like a wolf; what he kills in the morning he devours in the evening.”ISV — Genesis 49:27

28 That’s how Israel blessed these ^{m49:28 Lit. All these are the} twelve tribes of Israel, and this is what their father told them when he pronounced his blessing for them, blessing each one with a blessing suitable for them.ISV — Genesis 49:28

29 In his last words, Jacob ^{n49:29 Lit. he} issued this set of instructions to them all: “I’m about to join ^{o49:29 Lit. to be gathered to} our ancestors. Bury me alongside my ancestors in the cave in the field that used to belong to Ephron the Hittite.ISV — Genesis 49:29

30 It’s the cave in the field near Mamre at Machpelah in the land of Canaan that Abraham bought to serve as a cemetery.ISV — Genesis 49:30

31 It’s where Abraham and his wife Sarah were buried, where Isaac and his wife Rebekah were buried, and where I buried Leah.ISV — Genesis 49:31

32 Both the field and the cave that’s in it were purchased from the Hittites.”ISV — Genesis 49:32

33 After concluding this set of instructions to his sons, Jacob ^{p49:33 Lit. he} tucked his feet up into bed, quit breathing, and was gathered to his ancestors.ISV — Genesis 49:33